Suspensions for South Carolina’s Balkman and Vanderbilt’s Smith

Birmingham, AL (Sports Network) – South Carolina freshman forward Renaldo
Balkman was suspended by the SEC for Saturday’s game against Ole Miss because
of a fighting incident that occurred during Wednesday’s contest versus
Vanderbilt.

Balkman was whistled for a flagrant foul and then ejected after he got into a
fight with Vanderbilt guard Corey Smith in the first half of the Gamecocks’
57-55 conference victory.

As a result of the NCAA fighting rule, Smith will also be suspended for the
Commodores’ contest against Kentucky on Saturday.

The rule calls for an automatic one-game suspension for a player ejected for
fighting in a game for the first time in a season.

Balkman is averaging 7.0 points and 4.4 rebounds for the 24th-ranked Gamecocks
(18-2, 5-1 SEC), while Smith is averaging 6.0 points and 3.8 boards for the
Commodores (13-4, 2-4).